Shower Party (1897); Bridal Shower (1901)

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I'm getting married in about 60 days at the Astoria World Manor (Queens,  
just across the bridge from Manhattan). If you want to be invited, send your  
address in now.
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OED doesn't have "bridal shower"? OED does have "shower party" from  1904, 
and it appears to be an Americanism. I can't tell where this all started,  but 
my future wife accuses Bloomingdale's.
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(OED)
shower, n.
 
b. An abundance of gifts of a similar kind presented  by guests at a party to 
celebrate esp. a wedding or birth; a party given for  this purpose. Also 
attrib. Also as second element in kitchen  shower s.v. _KITCHEN_ 
(http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/crossref?query_type=word&queryword=shower&first=1&max_to_show=10&
sort_type=alpha&search_id=HvwG-f7A1tB-975&result_place=1&xrefword=kitchen&ps=n
.)  n. 7,  linen shower s.v. _LINEN_ 
(http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/crossref?query_type=word&queryword=shower&first=1&max_to_show=10&sort_type=alpha&search_
id=HvwG-f7A1tB-975&result_place=1&xrefword=linen&ps=n.)  n. 5,  wedding 
shower, etc. U.S.  
1904  Grand Rapids (Michigan) Even.  Press 22 June 4 The ‘shower parties’ 
that through  mistaken hospitality the wedded couple are forced to attend. 1926  
Publishers' Weekly 26 June 2031/1 First comes June, then the showers, the 
wedding and after the  honeymoon the settling down to a home life. 1949  Los 
Angeles Times Home Mag. 8 May 14/3 Wedding showers..are a particularly warmhearted 
American custom. 1958  Even. Standard 10 Apr. 8/2 A  shower..is really a 
gift-giving party centred round a luncheon, tea or supper  party. 1978  _J.  
CARROLL_ (http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-c.html#j-carroll)  Mortal Friends 
IV. ii. 394 She  didn't explain, but implied that she wanted to discuss her 
trousseau and her  silver and china patterns and the sort of showers she would 
want.
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_WITH  THE GEORGIA SAGES._ 
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=1&did=532061572&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=113686140
7&clientId=65882) 
The Atlanta Constitution  (1881-2001). Atlanta, Ga.: Feb 11, 1897. p. 0_4 (1 
page) :
Rome is to have a shower party. It never rains but it pours in  some places.
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     _The Athens Messenger And Herald_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=P9SpTvomPU+KID/6NLMW2rd+5wXglS7qLslm7xgC+6i1Drc2Q6owQkIF+CsZYmrz)  
_Thursday, November 21, 1901_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search=)  _Athens,_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search="bridal+shower"+AND+cityid:1103+AND+stateid:73+AND+range:1753-1902)   _Ohio_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search="bridal+shower"+AND+stateid:73+AND+ra
nge:1753-1902)   ...... Crane and  Mary Smith met with a surprise in the form 
of a double BRIDAL  SHOWER in honor of ... ..
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     _The Athens Messenger And Herald_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=P9SpTvomPU+KID/6NLMW2rd+5wXglS7qpzXPEK4yN8CxvAGnfDX1oEIF+CsZYmrz)  
_Thursday, March 13, 1902_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search=)  _Athens,_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search="bridal+shower"+AND+cityid:1103+AND+stateid:73+AND+range:1753-1902)   _Ohio_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search="bridal+shower"+AND+stateid:73+AND+range
:1753-1902)   ...Miss Rilla  Verity was tendered a BRIDAL SHOWER Saturday 
night In hon-  or of her ... ..
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     _The Nebraska State Journal_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=W0CtXEq/mhWKID/6NLMW2vjK7OJ7S7ew2UnC1JnujjTC4bUV9mWgkkIF+CsZYmrz)  
_Saturday, June 01, 1901_ (http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search=)  
_Lincoln,_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search="shower+party"+AND+cityid:16387+AND+stateid:62+AND+range:1753-1902)   _Nebraska_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search="shower+party"+AND+stateid:62+AND+range:1
753-1902)   ...Miss Nellie  La Selle yesterday gave a kitchen SHOWER PARTY 
for Miss  Salis- bury whose ... ..